Man O' War, стр. 76

When Hawkes turned around toward her, not having even a guess as to where she had gotten the bit of verse, she said, "Emily Dickinson," and then handed him a large, obviously heavy cardboard box, saying, "Here. You shouldn't have to miss everything when you go back."

The prime minister took the box from her hands, raising one eyebrow as it shook in his hands. He rested it on the floor in front of him and was reaching to open its lid when it suddenly burst open of its own accord, forced upward by its occupant. As Hawkes pulled back, an awkward, big-pawed puppy pushed its way up and over the edge, stumbling into the surprised man's arms.

Pulling the puppy up into his lap, he tried to talk, but found his mouth would not work—his throat could not form any words. The puppy pushed its way up his chest, flopping against him, licking his face.

And deep inside the prime minister, something dark crumpled. The dog continued to clamber over him until it reached the point where its eyes met Hawkes's. The two souls searched each other for a long, open moment, and then, a flow of tears broke from the man's eyes, large, free-falling streams that splashed down across his cheeks and old leather vest.

The puppy pushed forward, licking at the running salt. Crushing the joyous dog to him, he stroked it and whispered to it and sobbed bitterly, finally weeping for all those fallen and gone.

Martel stepped away softly, leaving man and pup alone.

No matter what was going to happen, she thought, no matter what comes next, he deserves this.

Rounding the far corner of the ranch house, she looked up into the daytime sky, not able to see Mars at all. Then she whispered, "Hope, Benton? 'Hope is the universal liar.' "

And then she walked off toward the forest to take her last breath of pine.